Trump pardons Tim Leiweke over bid-rigging charge
The ex-OVG chief has expressed his "profound gratitude" after being granted a "full and unconditional" pardon by the US President
News By James Hanley | 4 December 2025
US President Donald Trump has issued a pardon to former Oak View Group (OVG) boss Tim Leiweke, who was accused of rigging the bidding process for Austin’s Moody Center.
Earlier this year, Leiweke was charged by the Department of Justice (DOJ) with orchestrating a conspiracy to rig the bidding for the development, management and use of the 15,000-cap arena on the campus of the University of Texas. He was alleged to have persuaded a competitor to stand down in exchange for receiving the venue’s subcontracts.
Having submitted the sole qualified bid, OVG ultimately won the project and the arena opened in April 2022.
Leiweke denied any wrongdoing and was set to face trial in 2026. However, documents posted online by the DOJ show the…
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